GOPALGANJ, May 29: Mango cultivation has raised a new hope among the growers of Muksudpur and Kasiani upazilas in the district. About 21,500 people of the two upazilas are involved in growing the juicy fruit.
According to the DAE sources, a total of 430 hectares of land have been brought under the farming of mango in Muksudpur and Kasiani upazilas with the production target of 3,397 tonnes.
Rashamay Mondal, Kasiani upazila agriculture officer, said there are about 9,000 mango cultivators in the upazila. Mango farming is increasing in the area due to high market demand and price.
He said Mallick, Gourmati, Amropali, Himsagor and Haribanga are popular varieties among the growers of the upazila.
Nitul Roy, Muksudpur upazila agriculture officer said mango is being cultivated on 258 hectares of land in the upazila. Some 12,500 people in the area are directly involved with the farming.
Farmer Abu Sayeed Mridha of Jangal Mokandapur village under Kasiani upazila said he has been growing mango on 10 bighas of land for the last 10 years.
The cultivator said he grows Fazli, Langra, Mettro, Mallick and Banana mango varieties. "Last year I got 450 maunds of mango from his orchard made a profit of Tk 6,5000", he added.
Samir Kumar Goshwami, deputy director (Agriculture), Gopalganj, said mango farming is profitable. A good number of people in the district have improved their financial condition by growing the popular fruit.
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